Guard for wire-drawing machines



W. J. GAJKOWSKI GUARD FOR WIRE DRAWING MACHINES Aug; 26,1923. 1,466,645

Filed May 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

ilu@ df 7 57 53 [V516 #il A-ui'g. 28, 1923. 1,466,645

w. J. GAJKowsKl GUARD FOR WIRE DRAWING MACHINES Fild May 2s. 1922 2 sheets-shea 2 waczyfzaw .1" qaj'kawh; fnl/gwn Y quently happen,

drawing machines, and

Patented Aug. Z8, 1923.

v-wmp Sqpfrigs PATENT foFFicE.

' wLAnYsLAwzr. GAJxowsirnoF rro sfrANrsLaw z. GnAnowsKL'oNn-FOURTH 'ro STANLEY J. eAJKoWsKI, AND

ONE-FOURTH TQV 'EDMOND GAJKOWSKI,

YALL 0E' BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GUARD ronfwrnn-nnawrna MACHINES.

Application vledy May 23,

a guard forthe reel,

of the machine.

known as the wire block In'wire drawing machines, accidents tresuch as catching the fingers or other'members, or the clothing of the operator between the wire and the reel or block; other injuries being caused to the operator, due to the wire breaking and a portion of the wire on the reel becoming un coiled and opening up sothat the end oil. the uncoiled portion is swung outwardly by centrifugal force and*k slashes the operator, oftentimes resul-ting in disfiguring his face or causingother serious injuries.

The primary object of my invention is to provide aguard which is so constructed that it may be equally adapted kfor use in connection with large reels or blocks employed in machines for drawing heavy gauge wire or with small reels or blocks forming partof machines used for drawingine or light gauge wire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. guard which can be conveniently attached to the machine and as readily removed therefrom, and in which provision is madefor` movingthe Y,guard away from the reel 'or block while attachedk to the bed of the machine so thatthe wire can be easily started on the reel.

A further object is to so mount the guard, that as soon as the machine isstarted-, the guard may be conveniently moved inwardly into protecting position to prevent unwinding o'f the wire from the reel or block kin the event ott-he wire becoming broken and also to guard againstthe drawing in of the iingers or othermembersfvot an operator,

A still further object `is. to provide a guard ot simple construction` and one which y is inexpensive and conveniently operated under the-conditions of use necessary in a machine ofthe kind mentioned.

The invention consistsi-n the novel fea-` mounted 19227. serial N6. 562,986.

tures. of construction, and in the` arrangelment and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularlyv pointed out. in the subjoined claims.

y In the'drawings:,-

Fig. 1r is a plan. View ofa portion of a jwireV drawing machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the -machine, taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, the reel or block being shown. in e evation.

Fig.y 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional elevation of the machine, the section being taken through vthe guard on line 3 3, Fig. 1, and looking in the` direction of the arrow crossing said line. f

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the movable member of theV guard. i

Fign5 is a detached perspective view of the securing or fixed member of the guard.

Fig. 6 is a'transverse section taken on line c c, rig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through the BUFFALO, naw YORK, Assienon or @Nn-FOURTH n guardV taken on line 7 7, Fig.' 1, the ad'jacent port-ion` of'the r el or block being shown in. elevation with the posit-ion` of the wires thereon in dotted lines.

Fig. 8. is a. longitudinal section through the. guard taken on line fie-8,r Fig. 1.

The machine has a suitable frame 10 supporting a table or bed 11, on which is va drawing die 12, which may be of any well known for-mor construction and through which the wire, designated yby the numeral 13, is V adapted to be drawn to reduce the diameter of the same, the wire being uncoiled from a suitable reel (not shown), or supplied Ato the machine in any other manner.v

14 designates the reel, or what isv generally kno-wn as the"wire block, which is slightly tapered upwardly and has a circumferential iange 15 at its lower end. This reel or block is provided with detachable upstanding arms 16, which are removably inserted into depressions or arm-receiving Vpockets formed ink theupper wall of the reel or block inthe usual manner, preferably tour such arms being employed. f

The reel is secured to a vertical shaft 17 extending downwardly through theV table or bed and driven by a drive shaft 18 arranged horizontally underneath the table or bed, suitable gearing 19 being provided on said shatsjto transe the motion and power -iti-em the drive shaft "18 tothe vertical 'shaft 17. Suitable clutches and other mechanism (not shown) are invariably employed in wire drawing machines of thisrlnnd for stopping the rotation of thevertical shaft 17 and consequently or" the reel or block, and

for elevating said reel or block; but since these form no part ot my invention l have not considered it necessary to illustrate such parts.

The wire '13, after being passed through the drawing die, is secured or otherwise ar# ranged on the reel or block so that when said reel or block is rotated, it will gradually wind up the wire while drawing the wire through the drawing die and reducinof the diameter of said wire. Bue to the upward taper of the reel or block, the convolutions otithe wire around the reel or block gradually move upwardly, being so forced by the portion or convolution et the wire last wound around the reel or block. In this manner the wire is wound around the reel or bloek and theconvolutions thereof gradually moved upwardly so as to eventually encircle `the arms 16 rising from the top or the reel er bleek, and after a number of revolutions of the reel or block, the complete or desired length of wire will be coiled around the block and the arms 16. Vhen the desired length is so coiled, the convolutions or' the wirearound the block are worked upwardly around the coils of wire then encircling the arms 16 so as to form circular bundle, the coils or convolutions of which may be tied together Vfor further reduction or for .the market, as the case may be.

It will be noted in Fig. l that the wire, in leaving the drawing die, passes to the reel in a line tangentially thereto, and it is the practice of the operator to occasionally grasp the wire between the drawing die and the reel or bleclr to determine Vwhether the drawing` die is properly functioning to reduce the diameter of the wire and to ascertain the quality of the wire thus reduced. This, oftentimes, results in the operators fingers or a portion of his garment being drawn between the wire and the reel or block, and before it is possible for him to stop the machine, his arm may be drawn around thereel or bleek and serious injury indicted.

To prevent such accidents, and others resulting from the breakage of the wire between the drawing die and the reel or block, my improved guard, considered as a whole, and designated b y the numeral 2O is secured to the table or bed of the machine and positioned in close proximity to the reel or block, with a portion of the guard overhanging the flange l5, the overhanging portion of the guard beingprovided to prevent the uncoilingof` the wire in the event that the wire ,hanging becomes broken .between the drawing die and the reel or block, Vsuch uncoiling being particularly prevented since the guard extends a considerable distancecircumferentially along `the surta/ee of the reel or block and overlies the circiui'iferential flange thereof over an extended area.

The guard, in its more restricted sense, or considered as a guard-device, comprises a lined or securing member 2l and a movable or guard member 22, the fixed or securing iember being` bolted or otherwise fastened to thel table or ed ll, but preferably fas tened in the manner shown in Figs. l and 2, in which 23 designates hook bolts having the ends of their hook portions entered in depressions 2eormed in the fixed or securing member 2l and their shanks extending down through the table or bed and through a transverse bar 25, nuts 26 being'threaded thereon and bearing against said bar.

Theixed or securing member comprises a ilat body portion 2 having at opposite sides upstanding flanges 2S provided with inwardly overhanging portions along a portion of their lengths and with inwardly-di 'r cted terminals or stops 30, 3l at opposite ents. The inwardly overhanging portions 29 form guide grooves 32, while the terminals or stops 30 close the outer ends ot' said guide groores. The inwardly overhanging `portions 29 extend rearwardly from the front end of the iixed or securing member 21, or more particularlyfrom the inwardly-directed terminals or stops 30 at the trent ends of \s 28,the inner ends of said inwardly ing portions terminating a distance from the inwardly-directed terminals or stopsl 3l at 'the rear ends of said flanges so as to provide openings 33 between said terminals or stops and the inner ends of the overportion's 29.

transversely elongated opening 34 is formed in the Hat body portion near its rear end, and at opposite ends of said opening` are trunnion pockets 35 which'receive the trunnions 3G of a roller 87 rotatably arranged within said transx ersely elongated opening and extending slightly above the upper surface et said flat body portion. Said flat body portion is provided with an elongated depression 38, which extends 'forwardly from a point near the transversely elongated opening 34:'to the front edge 'of said fiat body portion. The fixed or securing member is preferably constructed of iron or other heavy material and is retained in'position on the table or bed ll by its weight and by the hook bolts 23.

At opposite sides of the ixed or securing member 2l. supporting arms 39 are pivotally secured, said arms. in preferred form, being constructed of flat metallic material pivot- ;:lly fastened at their front ends to said fixed member and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rear portions being at right anglesto the front, portions thereof; and .resting upon the circumferential vflange 15 ofthek reel or wire block 14.

The movable or guard member of the guard device comprises a. segmental body portion 40, curved to conform tothe curvature of the reelor wire block, and a retainer-` portion 41 extendingforwardly froinvthe same, saidretainer portion being substan;

tially rectangular and fof. a width to pass be-V tween the inwardly overhaiiging portions 29 of the upstanding liangesj28Y on the rfixed member 21. At opposite vsidesof saldretainer portion, at the forward end thereof,

laterally projecting trunnions or pivot projections 42 are provided and adistance in rear of said trunnions or pivot projections said retainer portion is provided with two fiat retainer lugs 43, both to be Iittedinto the guide grooves 32 of the fixed member under certain conditions, to be hereinafter explained. Under other conditions, said flat retainer lugs are positioned directly in front of the inwardly-directed terminals or stops 31 of said fixed' member, and when the retainer portion 41 of the movable or guard Lmember 1s positioned, as last described,

locking means, associated kwith said retainer portion, is adapted to lock said movable or guard vmember against movement. Said locking means comprises ahandle 44 pivoted to the front end of'said retainer portion 41 and having lock fingers 45 extending downwardly and' adapted to. enter .depressions 46 in the fixed member 21, said depressions be? ing at opposite sides of the kelongated depression 38 formedrin said fixed member.

Said elongated depression provides sufli' cient clearance to permit the hand or fingers ofthe opera-tor to quickly and conveniently grasp the handle 44, At one end of the segmental body portion 40 a combined rest and Yguide element 47 is provided, said'element .portion 41 is in a. plane beneath that of the segmental body portion 40, and said segmental body portion is provided with notches 5Oon its underv side which receive the flat rear portions of the 'supporting arms 39, opposite walls of said 'notches serving as stops to prevent lengthwise movement of said segmental "body port-ion 40. Said segmental body portion is also provided along its inner 'face of the segmental body portion.

edge with anoverhanging flange 51, which is positioned over the circumferential flange oftheV reel or block and'spaced therefrom. This overhanging flange and the inner wall of the segmental body portion from which it extends, taken with the Vcircumferential wall of the reel orblock and the upper face of the circumferential flange of said reel or block, forms av rectangular space between the guard and the reel or block.

It is to be noted `that'the inner edge of the overhanging flange 51 is spaced a sufficient distance from the circumferential surface ofthe reelfor block to permitl the wire to pass lupwardly along the latter. The wire afs it extends from the drawing `die to thereel .or block enters the space between the latter and the guard, near one end of the guard', and for this .purpose the segmentalv vbodyY portion 40 has a` transverse opening 52 therethrough which is open at the top and provided with a retainer flange 53 at one side of said opening, said flange overhanging one of the side walls of the opening, and having its edges beveled or rounded, as

Overhanging the opening 52 with its outer edge in close proximity to the edge of the retainer flange 53, is a latch or ypivoted ietaincr55, which has a weight 56at the opposite side of its pivot, the weight being in the form of a long arm retained within a groove 57 arranged lengthwise in the upper y The pivotofrsaid latch or retainer extends transversely through said segmental body portion and said weight tends to keep said latch or pivoted retainer elevated and in line with said retainer flange 53 so that a guarded wire passage or opening is formed through'said segmental body portion, or what may. be termed the guard proper. The latch or pivoted retainer may be saidto serve as a pivotedxtopwall for said wire passageor opening.y i

Secured to the top of the guard, above the latch or pivoted retainer 55 isa guide plate 58 having av groove 59 at its 'under side, Ainto which the. weight yor arm 5G may swing when the latch or pivoted retainer isy depressed, opposite side walls of said `groove 59 serving to guide said weight or arm and prevent lateralv swaying movement in the event Vthat the pivot, or the opening through which the pivot is passed, becomes worn.. A guarded wire passage or opening of this kind, enables the wire to be placedinthe opening Afrom Y Vthe top,'as it is simply necessary to lay the .wire in position at the end ofthe latch or pivoted retainer and press downwardly.V AThiswillvswing the latch or pivoted retainer downwardly and allow the wire to f pass betweentlie end of the same and the retainer flange 53,' and as soonfasl the wire has Ipassed between the' two, the latch or pivote/l retainer will automatically eloseand retain the wire in the opening or wire 'passage. l f

ln guard o1c this hind it is necessary that clearance be provided between the segmental body portion and theedge of the circumfen ential flange on the reel or block, and when winding line wire onto the reel or block itV is possible that the wire will pass downwardly over the flange. To prevent this, the'segmental body portion is provided with pivoted retainers 60, which are spaced Vapart.suitabledistances along the segmental boe-y portion, said retainer comprising pivoted members :tastenedinto grooves (il in the under side et the segmental body portion. lo prevent lthese retainers swinging down .vardly beyond certain limits, retainer plates 62 are secured to the under side oi' said segniental body portion, said plates extending across Ythe grooves Gl and being fastened at opposite sides ot said grooves by screws G23, or otherwise.

It is to be noted that t ie drawing die 12 is positioned on the table or bed l1 in front of or in a plane forward ot the reel or wire block ld; but in some machines, and more particularly machines designed for drawing heavy gauge wire. the drawing die is dispose-d at one end ot the table or bed a dist-ance troni the reel or block, and when my improved guard is employed in a machine of this kind, the wire passes troni the drawing die to the reel or block, as ttor eX- aiiiple illustrated iii dotted linesfat Ge, the wire passing underneath the combined est and guide l? instead of through the guarded wiroipassage or opening 52.

rthe guard, when positioned as shown in Fig.. l, permits the operator to test t-lie wire after having passed through the drawing die, without liability'ot having his fingers pinched between the wire and the reel or block or being otherwise injured, and in the event that the wire becomes broken between the rcel or block and said drawingdie, only so much ot the free end oit the wire as may be exposed between 'the ends ot the guard will be able to swing outwardly by centrifugal torce, and even this vportion ot the 'ire will be drawn inwardly toward the reel or block while passing underneath the overhanging flange 5l, which vwill prevent the wire troni swinging out to cause damage to the operator stationed at the liront of the machine.

Vilhile lhave herein described the guard as comprising a fixed member 2l and a movable inember QQ, the fixed member, in reality, serves as a means tor positioning` guiding and retaining the guard proper, which eonsists oit the movable member. Artherefore, in its broader sense the movable member may be considered the guard while vthe fixed member, as particularly describedhereinberae-ases tore, may be considered a. means for seeurine guidingr and retainine the 0fuard on N7 h .,7 D h Ythe table or bed in desired relation to the reel or block. f

l'vfhen the guard, considered as the part is in protecting position, as shown in `igs. l and 2, it is in close proximity to ie reel or wire block and has its overhangng flange 5l positionedabove the circumferential flange l5 oi' said reel orbloel, and

in this position, prevents injury to the operator under all operating conditions. fit certain times' in the oper tion otthis machine., it is desirable to provide a .greater clearance between the guard and block than 1 Vprovided when the guard is in protecting position, and 'for this reason the' guard is movable away from the reel or block to enyable the latter to be raised or to permit ot nore readily applying the end of the wire i to be coiled around the reel or block to the latter, and for other purposes. To accoiii'- plish this, the operator will grasp the handle ifi and swing' the same upwardly on its pivots, with the result that the lock ngers will become witl'idrawn 'from the depressions 4e@ in the fixed member 2l, or combined retainer and guide as it may be tei-ined. By then drawing the. handle forwardly, the trunnioiis or pivot projections 5 will be moved forwardly in the guide grooves 32, while the ilat retainer lugs 43 will move underneath the yoverhanging flanges :29 from their .positions between the inner ends of said flanges and the .inwardlydirected terminals or stops 3l, the roller 3T providing a rolling support for the guard, which will permit the ready outward movement of the same. l/Vhen the guard is moved forwardly in this manner, sulficient cleara ce is provided between the guard and the reel or block Jfor all purpose yand the combined rest and guide 47.

lli/*hen it is desired to remove the guard without removing the combined retainer and guide from the table, the guard may be swung upwardly on the 'trunnions or pivotproiections d@ so as to cause the dat retainer lugs to pass up through the openings 33. By then toreing the pivoted -end yoi! the guard rearwardly to bring the trunnions or pivot pr jections e2 in line witii the openings 33, the .entire guard' may be j lifted from the machine.

Having thus described my invention,-

`wliat yclaim is Y l. A guard of the kind described, comprising al segmental guard member, and a securing member to which said guard memberis securing said guard'member to an immovable part adjacent said wire block; l 3. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a table yand a rotatable wire block, of a securing membery detachablyfas-.

tened tosaid tableadjacent said wire block, and segmental guard in protective relation to said wire bloclrand yhaving an extension slidably connected to said securing member.

4l. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a table and a. wire block rotatable above said table, of a `securing member' on said table adjacent said wire block, a segmental guard co-operatingy with said block and pivotally and slidably connected to said securing member, and co-acting means on said guard and securing member to lock said guardin protecting position. n

5. A guard Ifor wire blocks comprising a segmental guard'meinber having a forward extension between its ends equipped with V'pivot projections at its front end, and a xed member to which said guard is pivotally secured, said guard having a wire passage between one end thereof and the forward extension thereon. j

6. A segmentally formed guard for wire blocks provided with awtransverse opening, a flange overhanging one of the walls of said opening and a pivotedretainer overhanging the other wall of said opening and having its edge in contact with said flange.

7 A guard for wire blocks having a segmental guard member provided with a trans-y verse opening and a pivoted retainer latch forming one of the walls of said opening.

8. A gnard ,for wiie blocks comprising an elongated guard member yhaving ay transverse opening therethrouglnand a weighted pivoted retainer latch closingV one sidey of Y said opening.

Vally, arranged, said guard having an elon-V gated, depression and .an arm serving as a weight extending from'r said pivoted wall *n and norniallyentere'd in said elongated' depression, kand a guide plate secured vto said guard overlying a portion offsaid pivoted wall and a portion ofsaid arm.

11. A guardcomprising a segmental bodyl portionV having la. forwardly extended ietainer portion,a handle pivotally secured to the `front end of said'rejtainer portion, a securing member to which said retainer portion is slidably secured, and eo-acting means onfsaid'retainer portion and saidsecuring port-ion for locking said segmental body portion at theinnermost point of its movement with reference to said securing portion.

112.V Aguard device comprising a securing portion ada'ptedtobe fastened to a fixed portion of a machine and having a supporting roller therein and guide grooves at opposite marginal portions thereof, a guard provided with pivot projections adapted for slidable and rotatable movements in said guide grooves, rand mea-ns yfor locking said guard in position on said securing member.

f 13. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a table and a wire block rotatable above said table, of a segmental guard, a. securing member to whichk said guard is pivotally and slidably secured, said securing meinberliaving depressions in its upper face,

kand hook bolts passed through said table and having the ends of its hook portions entered in said depressions.

. 14. A guard comprising a securing member having a flat body portion, upstanding flanges at opposite sides provided with inwardly overhanging portions and inwardlydirected terminals at opposite ends of said flanges, the inwardly-directed terminals at` the rear ends of said flanges being spaced from said inwardly overlianging portions to provide openings between the two, a segmental guardliaving a forwardly extending retainer portion provided at its front end witlipivot projections and at opposite sides `with'flat retainer lugs spaced from said pivot projections, said pivot projections beving slidably and rotatably retained underneathsaid inwardly overhanging portions and said flat retainer lugs being positioned beneath said openings.

y'15. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a-table and a wire block rotatable above said table, of a securing member secured to said table and having a flat body portion provided with a transversely elongated opening and trunnion pockets kat opposite ends of said opening. a roller having trunnions at opposite ends fitting said pockets .and arranged to extend above the upper surface `of said body portion, said securing member having inwardly opening guide grooves, ka segmental guard provided with a forwardly extending retainer portion tained in said guide grooves and said Hat retainer lugs being positioned in rear of said guide grooves but movable thereinto7k and means extending from said securing member to support said segmental guard.

16. The combination with a wire bloclrv having a circumferential flange at its lower end, a. segmental guard positioned in closelyspaced relation `to the edge of said circumerential` flange and having an overhanging liange above and spaced from said circumferential flange7 the edge of said overhanging Flange being spaced from the circumferential surface of said wire block, and pivoted retainer elements on the under side of said guard bearing against the upper face 17. The combination with a .Wire blockA having a circumferential llange, a securing member in fixed relation to said block and having supporting arms extending therefrom and adapted to bear against the upper side of said. circumferentialflange, and a segmental guard provided with a 'forwardly extending portion slidably and pivotally connected to said securing member, said segmental guard receiving support from said supporting arms. f

18. rThe combination of a Wire block, and a segmental guard co-operating therewith and having a guardedwire passage therethrough arranged tangentially to said block.

ln testimonv whereof I ailix mv signature. 

